Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method of measuring availability of a media server that transmits media content to a plurality of users via data links of the media server, the method comprising: sampling, by one or more processors, a plurality of data buffers allocated in a random access memory (RAM) of the media server, each at a sampling time instant, to determine whether the data buffers contain data being transmitted at the sampling time instances, wherein each data buffer is associated with one of the plurality of users and the data are stored in the data buffers for sending to the data links; calculating, by the one or more processors, a saturation score based on the sampling, wherein the saturation score is indicative of a number of the data buffers containing data being transmitted at the sampling time instances; and evaluating, by the one or more processors, the saturation score against a threshold saturation score for the media server, wherein the relationship between the scores indicates availability of the media server.
A method for measuring the availability of a media server delivering content to multiple users via data links. The method involves sampling data buffers in the server's RAM. Each buffer is linked to a user, holding data for transmission. The system checks if these buffers contain data at the sampling time. A "saturation score" is calculated based on the number of buffers actively transmitting data. This score is then compared against a predefined threshold. The relationship between the actual saturation score and the threshold indicates the media server's availability or load.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps of sampling, calculating, and evaluating are repeated cyclically.
The media server availability measurement method described above, involving sampling data buffers, calculating a saturation score, and evaluating against a threshold, is repeated continuously on a cyclical basis to provide ongoing monitoring.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors comprise one or more processors of the media server.
In the method for measuring media server availability by sampling data buffers and calculating a saturation score, the one or more processors responsible for performing these actions are located within the media server itself.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors comprise: at least one processor of the media server that calculates the saturation score; and at least one processor of a traffic management server that is in communication with the media server, wherein the at least one processor of the traffic management server evaluates the saturation score against the threshold score.
The method for measuring media server availability using data buffer sampling and saturation score calculation utilizes processors in two locations: the media server and a traffic management server. The media server's processor calculates the saturation score, and the traffic management server's processor compares this score against a predefined threshold to determine server availability. These two servers communicate the saturation score over a data network.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein sampling the plurality of data buffers comprises sampling the plurality of data buffers sequentially each at a different time instant.
In the method for measuring media server availability by sampling data buffers, the sampling process iterates through each data buffer sequentially, taking a reading from each buffer at slightly different, distinct time instants.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sampling the plurality of data buffers comprises sampling the plurality of data buffers simultaneously.
In the method for measuring media server availability, sampling of the data buffers is performed by checking all data buffers simultaneously.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data buffers comprise socket send buffers allocated in the RAM of the media server.
In the method for measuring media server availability, the data buffers being sampled within the media server's RAM are specifically socket send buffers, which are used for sending data over network sockets.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising routing, by the one or more processors, a new request for media content to the media server, wherein the saturation score of the media server is a basis for the routing.
The method for measuring media server availability by sampling data buffers and calculating a saturation score is extended to include routing new requests for media content. The saturation score of the media server is a key factor in determining where new requests are directed. Therefore, if a server is close to the saturation score threshold, no new requests for media content will be routed to it.
9. An apparatus comprising: a media server comprising a random access memory (RAM), wherein a plurality of data buffers is allocated in the RAM, wherein each data buffer is associated with one of a plurality of users to which media content is being transmitted from the media server via data links of the media server, and data of the media content are stored in the data buffers for sending to the data links; one or more processors in communication with the RAM, wherein the one or more processors execute software which causes the one or more processors to: sample the plurality of data buffers, each at a sampling time instant, to determine whether the data buffers contain data being transmitted at the sampling time instances; calculate a saturation score based on the sampling, wherein the saturation score is indicative of a number of the data buffers containing data being transmitted at the sampling time instances; and evaluate the saturation score against a threshold saturation score for the media server, wherein the relationship between the scores indicates availability of the media server.
An apparatus that measures media server availability includes a media server with RAM containing data buffers for each user receiving media. These buffers hold data before sending. Processors connected to the RAM execute software to: sample the data buffers to see if they contain data at a specific time, calculate a saturation score based on the number of buffers with data, and compare this score to a threshold. The result of this comparison indicates the media server's availability.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the media server comprises one or more network adapters connecting the media server to the computer data network.
The apparatus described above with the media server, RAM, processors, and a saturation score calculator, includes one or more network adapters on the media server that connect it to a data network.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a data storage system for storing the media content.
The apparatus that includes a media server with RAM, processors, saturation score calculator, further comprises a data storage system for holding the media content.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the data storage system is internal to the media server.
In the apparatus described, which includes the media server, RAM, saturation score calculator, and data storage, the data storage system that holds the media content is located inside the media server itself.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the data storage system is: external to the media server; and connected to a plurality of media servers that each transmits media stored in the data storage system to users.
In the media server apparatus including RAM, a saturation score calculator, and a data storage system for media content, the storage system is external to the media server and connected to multiple media servers. All servers then transmit media from this shared storage to users.
14. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a traffic management server in communication with the media server via a computer data network, and wherein: the one or more processors comprises at least a first processor and a second processor; the media server comprises the first processor, and the first processor calculates the saturation score; and the traffic management server comprises the second processor, and the second processor evaluates the saturation score against a threshold saturation score.
An apparatus includes a media server with RAM, processors, and a saturation score calculator. A separate traffic management server communicates with the media server over a data network. The media server calculates the saturation score using its processor, and the traffic management server uses its processor to compare the score against the threshold.
15. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the data buffers comprise socket send buffers allocated in the RAM of the media server.
In the apparatus with a media server, RAM, and a saturation score calculator, the data buffers being sampled in RAM are socket send buffers used for transmitting data over network sockets.
16. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are programmed to route a new request for media content to the media server, and the saturation score of the media server is a basis for the routing.
The apparatus with the media server, RAM, processors, and a saturation score calculator, is also programmed to route new media content requests. The saturation score of the media server influences this routing decision. New media content requests will be routed to media servers that are below the threshold level.
17. An apparatus comprising: a first media server that comprises: a random access memory (RAM), wherein a plurality of data buffers is allocated in the RAM, wherein each data buffer is associated with one of a plurality of users to which media content is being transmitted from the media server via data links of the media server, and data of the media content are stored in the data buffers for sending to the data links; and one or more processors in communication with the RAM, wherein the one or more processors execute software which causes the one or more processors to: sample the plurality of data buffers, each at a sampling time instant, to determine whether the data buffers contain data being transmitted at the sampling time instances; and calculate a saturation score based on the sampling, wherein the saturation score is indicative of a number of the data buffers containing data being transmitted at the sampling time instances; and a traffic management server connected to the first media server via a first computer data network, wherein the traffic management server: receives saturation score data based on the saturation score of the first media server via the first computer data network; and routes a new request for media content based on the saturation score data.
An apparatus comprising a first media server calculates the saturation score of the first media server. The first media server comprises RAM, multiple data buffers in the RAM associated with multiple users, and data links. The media server also comprises processors that sample data buffers at a sampling time to determine if the data buffers contain the data being transmitted. A traffic management server is connected to the first media server. This server receives the saturation score data and then routes the new request for media content based on the saturation score data.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein: the first media server is one of a plurality of media servers connected to a second computer data network, wherein each of the plurality of media servers comprises: a random access memory (RAM), wherein a plurality of data buffers is allocated in the RAM, wherein each data buffer is associated with one of a plurality of users to which media content is being transmitted from the media server via data links of the media server, and data of the media content are stored in the data buffers for sending to the data links; and one or more processors in communication with the RAM, wherein the one or more processors execute software which causes the one or more processors to: sample the plurality of data buffers, each at a sampling time instant, to determine whether the data buffers contain data being transmitted at the sampling time instances; and calculate a saturation score based on the sampling, wherein the saturation score is indicative of a number of the data buffers containing data being transmitted at the sampling time instances; and the traffic management server is connected to the first computer data network and routes the new request based on the average saturation score for the media servers connected to the second computer data network.
The apparatus includes multiple media servers, each with RAM, data buffers for users, data links, and processors that calculate a saturation score. A traffic management server connects to these media servers, routing new media content requests based on the average saturation score calculated across all media servers on a second computer data network.
19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein: the first media server is one of a plurality of media servers connected to the first computer data network, wherein each of the plurality of media servers comprises: a random access memory (RAM), wherein a plurality of data buffers is allocated in the RAM, wherein each data buffer is associated with one of a plurality of users to which media content is being transmitted from the media server via data links of the media server, and data of the media content are stored in the data buffers for sending to the data links; and one or more processors in communication with the RAM, wherein the one or more processors execute software which causes the one or more processors to: sample the plurality of data buffers, each at a sampling time instant, to determine whether the data buffers contain data being transmitted at the sampling time instances; and calculate a saturation score based on the sampling, wherein the saturation score is indicative of a number of the data buffers containing data being transmitted at the sampling time instances; and the traffic management server routes the new request based on the average saturation score for the media servers connected to the first computer data network.
The apparatus has multiple media servers that each have RAM, data buffers, data links, and processors that calculate a saturation score. A traffic management server connects to the media servers on a first data network. The traffic management server routes new media content requests based on the average saturation score for all media servers on the first data network.
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September 26, 2017
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